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Chapter 7

0707 to 0730
SANCTUARY, COUNTER-ATTACK, AND DEFEND

Wednesday, October 25, 1944

A/C    The smoke screen was used to great effect by all ships of Taffy III, albeit it was one of the few advantages they held. The destroyers and destroyer escorts zigzagged in and around the fleeing escort carriers, winding the smoke layers into a defensive shield. The hot, humid Philippine climate aided to combine the mixture of black fuel smoke and white chemical smoke, making them mix most effectively. Combined with the current intermittent rain squall, it greatly neutralized the Japanese gunfire accuracy and was a contributing factor to the escape of Taffy III...for the time being...

0707    Aboard escort carrier ST LO, a salvo is observed to splash ahead of the ship, slightly off the starboard bow. A series of four shells splash and explode in a line, the first shell hitting the water about 200 yards from the ship.

A/C    Help from Seventh Fleet surface forces, consisting of RADM Oldendorf’s Fire Support Group, the old, slow battleships, was about three hours away at the southern end of Leyte Gulf.

EVENT    Local US anti-submarine patrols from the other Taffies attack the ships of Centre Force, strafing their decks and dropping depth charges.

A/C    These planes were already in the air when Centre Force initially attacked Taffy III. As mentioned earlier, their pilots were untrained in anti-surface ship strikes, but certainly made up for their lack of anti-shipping training by their shear determination.

0708    Word is passed via TBS on the escort carriers of Taffy III, "All carriers launch all aircraft." Sixty-five fighters and forty-four TBM aircraft from the CVEs are launched. Several aircraft are unarmed or under-fueled due to their hasty launch. Only a handful of the bombers are armed with torpedoes. Escort carriers WHITE PLAINS and KITKUN BAY manage to launch General Motors FM-2 fighters which carry bombs.

0708    A TBM-1C Avenger Torpedo-bomber of Composite Squadron VC-10 is brought up on deck via the forward elevator aboard CVE GAMBIER BAY.

0708    Another salvo, similar to the first, is seen aboard CVE ST LO, landing the same distance ahead slightly off the port bow.

Photograph

EVENT    Commander Evans rapidly closes the distance between IJN Cruiser Division Seven and DD JOHNSTON. She pushes through the water at flank bell, creating a large bow wave. A long line of thick black funnel smoke is laid behind her as she goes.

A/C    JOHNSTON had already closed the approaching Japanese fleet by about nine miles since the initial contact with Centre Force. Commander Evans was displaying his true fighting spirit which led the way for the other screening ships of the task unit throughout the morning. The small Americans warships were commanded fearlessly in the face of their superior enemy.

EVENT    Several of the pursuing Japanese warships are forced to take evasive maneuvers in lieu of air attack, interrupting their pursuit of the escort carriers of Taffy III.

A/C    This was the norm for most of the engagement. The Japanese had no idea what the attacking aircraft carried ordnance-wise and therefore had to treat all aircraft as a potential threat.

0709    TBS - v Taffy 3, "ALL CARRIERS LAUNCH ALL AIRCRAFT."

0710    Steaming in single column at 33 knots, IJN heavy cruisers KUMANO, SUZUYA, TONE, and CHIKUMA of Cruiser Division Seven close the escort carriers on a southeasterly heading. They are the nearest threat to Taffy III. While maintaining their current course, they are on the verge of outflanking the escort carriers on their port quarter.

0710    The TBM-1C Avenger Torpedo-bomber of Composite Squadron VC-10 brought up on deck only a few minutes earlier is launched via the catapult loaded with a torpedo.

0710    Six TBM-1C torpedo bombers of Composite Squadron VC-5 are launched from CVE KITKUN BAY.

0710    The deployment of the screening ships in the rear of the CVE formation for the purpose of generating a smoke screen is now complete. All escort vessels now effectively contribute to the smoke screen as more ships enter the rain squall.

0710    Japanese battleships YAMATO , NAGATO, and HARUNA cease fire on the fleeing U.S. warships due to a lack of visibility caused by the smoke screen and rain squall. Aggressive BB KONGO to the northward, clear of the smoke and rain, continues to fire on the American task unit.

0710    Japanese Destroyer Squadron Two, led by CL NOSHIRO with seven highly capable destroyers, is ordered to follow in the rear of the formation.

A/C    The decision not to use these destroyers aggressively early in the battle generated quite a bit of controversy with strategists and historians. Rightfully so, their removal from the early stages of the battle were another crucial decision which led to the escape of the American task unit.

Photograph

0710    A Japanese warship, bearing 325° T, distance 14 miles, is picked up on radar by DE DENNIS.

EVENT    From the rear of the Japanese formation, battleships and light cruisers open fire upon DD JOHNSTON, all missing. Destroyer JOHNSTON expends over 200 rounds of 5-inch ammunition during her initial approach to the Japanese warships of Cruiser Division Seven.

A/C    Lone JOHNSTON was initially the nearest ship to the approaching Japanese. Once she was within range of the heavy cruisers’ guns, she was forced to maneuver wildly during her initial advance on the cruiser column.

0711    TBS - Taffy 2 v Taffy 3, "ENEMY BEARS 090 SPEED 30, AND 070 SPEED 30 KNOTS, DISTANCE 20 MILES."

A/C    From flagship FANSHAW BAY, RADM Sprague reports the enemies status to RADM Stump of Taffy II.

0711    TBS - v Taffy 3, "ALL SHIPS OF THIS COMMAND COME TO SHACKLE JIG BAKER UNSHACKLE."

A/C    All ships of the task unit are ordered to course 080° T.

0711    On the starboard quarter of the task unit, DE DENNIS changes course to 000° T to take cover in a rain squall.

0713    Escort Carrier ST LO enters the rain squall which is now a driving rain. All the escort carriers are laying smoke.

Photograph

0715    TBS - Taffy 2 v Taffy 3, "ENEMY COMPOSED OF 6 BATTLESHIPS, 8 CRUISERS, ACCOMPANYING DESTROYERS. PLEASE SEND ALL AVAILABLE PLANES TO THIS AREA."

A/C    As circumstances and time permitted, RADM Sprague radioed for help and realized that the majority of assistance would come from the escort carries of Task Unit 77.4.2.

0715    Steaming eastward at flank speed, the tail-end escort carrier of Taffy III enters the rain squall. The CVEs flee in a circular formation about 2,500 yards in diameter. The escorts lay protective smoke in their rear, about 6,000 yards from the imaginary center of the formation.

0715    At a distance of about 12,000-15,000 yards IJN BB HARUNA opens fire on DD JOHNSTON and misses.

EVENT    The escort carriers of Taffy III, now inside the protective rain squall, are ordered by RADM Sprague to turn southward toward the safety of the other Taffies, Leyte Gulf, and Seventh Fleet.

A/C    In his attempt to save Taffy III, RADM Sprague also wanted to draw the Japanese warships away from San Bernardino Strait and within striking distance of the ships and aircraft of the U.S. fleets. He knew the most damage would be inflicted to Centre Force in open water by the aircraft of the fleets. Taffy II was currently less than 25 miles, perhaps as close as 20 miles, southeast of Taffy III, just over the horizon. After RADM Stump had received RADM Sprague’s initial distress call, he hastily began preparing his first strike from the escort carriers of his task unit.

0716    Rear Admiral Sprague, sensing the danger from the Japanese cruiser line, orders his three destroyers to counterattack with torpedoes. Rear Admiral Sprague is unaware JOHNSTON has already engaged the cruisers with gunfire and is preparing to deliver the first torpedo attack.

A/C    The three FLETCHER Class destroyers of Taffy III had a total of thirty torpedoes between them. The four BUTLER Class destroyer escorts combined could only muster twelve more. Knowing he was entirely out-gunned by the quickly advancing Japanese warships in every category, RADM Sprague was determined to use his destroyers primary weapons before it was too late.

0718    Inside the rain squall, a driving rain with visibility close to zero, CVE ST LO begins launching the aircraft of Composite Squadron VC-65. Four Avenger Torpedo Bombers and fifteen Wildcat Fighters are prepared for immediate launch.

A/C     During the launching, the range of the enemy main body closed rapidly to 25,000 yards and on down to 22,000 yards. Main battery salvoes from both the battleships and heavy cruisers had continued landing among the CVEs.

EVENT    Destroyer HOEL, commanded by Commander L. S. Kintberger, in response to RADM Sprague’s order, turns his ship and heads west to engage the lead ships of Centre Force.

0720    TBS - v Taffy 3, "ALL CARRIERS REPORT WHETHER THEY HAVE LAUNCHED ALL PLANES. FIDO HAVE YOU LAUNCHED ALL PLANES? GEORGIA HAVE YOU LAUNCHED ALL PLANES?" .... v FIDO, "AFFIRMATIVE." .... v GEORGIA, "WILL LET YOU KNOW."

EVENT    Immediately after delivering her torpedo attack, DD JOHNSTON reverses course and retires toward the escort carriers inside her own smoke screen.

0723    TBS - Mercury 3 v Taffy 3, "ALL SHIPS TURN SHACKLE YOKE ITEM BAKER UNSHACKLE. DERBY AND DEXTER ACKNOWLEDGE." .... v DERBY, DEXTER, "WILCO OUT."

A/C    All ships of the task unit are ordered to course 110° T.

Photograph

0723    Inside the rain squall, DE DENNIS changes course to 110° T.

0723    TBS - Mercury 3 v Taffy 3, "EXECUTE UPON RECEIPT TURN NINE. DERBY AND DEXTER ACKNOWLEDGE." .... v DERBY, DEXTER, "WILCO OUT."

A/C    The OTC ordered the escort carriers to turn southward. This was another pivotal point in the battle; a big gamble which paid off. Concealed by the rain squall and out of sight from the enemy, RADM Sprague gambled greatly by turning the task unit to the south and thereby decreasing the distance in which Centre Force could have to travel to cut off the task units retreat. Luck was with RADM Sprague and his task unit at this time as Centre Force blindly continued on an easternly course oblivious to the CVEs turn to the south. RADM Sprague later wrote:

"It was hard (to make this decision), because in so turning we moved in an arc -  roughly semicircular - and I feared the Jap commander would cut across the diameter and blast us out of the water as we emerged from our little squall. "

A/C    From the Japanese point of view, BB KONGO conducted some fine shooting that morning. Of all four battleships present, only BB KONGO's fire control solutions were consistently accurate and she was credited with hitting many of Taffy III’s ships.

EVENT    At 9,000 yards DD HOEL fires five of her torpedoes at BB KONGO which turns hard to port to evade them. Battleship KONGO fires her main battery once again and hits DD HOEL with two more 14-inch shells.

EVENT    The damage from the heavy shells cause DD HOEL’s rudder to jam. As a result, she heads straight toward BB KONGO for two perilous minutes before steering can be shifted aft; she slowly turns away, avoiding further damage.

A/C    HOEL was in rough shape by this time. After spending two minutes driving towards KONGO, she was able to regain control of her rudder. Now, practically directly under the guns of KONGO, she had to make best her retreat with only one engine.

0725    Battleship KONGO enters the rain squall and ceases firing on the Americans.

0725    Escort Carrier KITKUN BAY completes the launching of her 10 TBM torpedo bombers and 10 FM-2 fighters from Composite Squadron VC-5.

A/C    KITKUN BAY had nearly her full complement of aircraft on board when Centre Force attacked. From the time of the initial sighting and the sounding of General Quarters it took her only about 30 minutes to ready and launch 20 aircraft. No small feat on an escort carrier, let alone one that is under fire and in a rain squall!

Photograph

0727    Heavy cruiser KUMANO is hit by at least one torpedo from DD JOHNSTON, possibly as many as three, almost severing her bow. Critically damaged, her speed drops to 16 knots and she drops out of the cruiser formation.

A/C    The Japanese cruiser division believed JOHNSTON was a BALTIMORE Class cruiser.

EVENT    Heavy cruiser SUZUYA, comes under extremely heavy air attack by Taffy aircraft. She is bombed twice and badly damaged. Veering to port, her speed is limited to 23 knots due to a ruptured fuel tank.

EVENT    With her division mate in more serious trouble than herself, CA SUZUYA stops to aid the severely wounded CA KUMANO.

A/C    Only one minute shy of 30 minutes into the Japanese bombardment the Americans had succeeded in placing two heavy units of Centre Force out of action for the remainder of the battle. The two MOGAMI Class heavy cruisers KUMANO and SUZUYA sported ten 8-inch guns and eight 5-inch guns apiece. Their early removal from the battle was paramount in the escape of the American task unit. Had they not been removed at this early stage, their 35 knot speed and heavy armament certainly would had given them the potential to play a major roll in the remainder of the battle. KUMANO would live one month longer, only to be sunk by Task Force 38 aircraft from the carrier TICONDEROGA. Later during the day, SUZUYA became a target for Taffy aircraft, floundered, and was scuttled by Centre Force destroyer OKINAMI.

0730    Running almost abeam of the cruiser line and with battleships closing from astern, DD JOHNSTON is hit by three 14-inch battleship and three 6-inch light cruiser shells, "...like a puppy being smacked by a truck...." Her after fire room and engine room are knocked out, all power to her three after 5-inch guns and gyrocompass are lost. The ship’s radar-search mast is broken off and comes to a rest, hanging near the bridge. Most important, power to the steering engine is cut off. With one engine remaining, her speed drops to 17 knots.

A/C    As JOHNSTON and HOEL were both hit with 14-inch shells, the battleship KONGO was effectively engaging the destroyers. Although severely crippled by the 14-inch hits, these two gallant destroyers would fight on.

0730    Battleship KONGO executes an emergency turn to starboard as she evades the torpedoes fired earlier by DD HOEL.

A/C    KONGO’s turn to starboard to comb HOEL’s torpedoes wakes kept her in the battle as it drew her on a course to close on the Americans.

0730    Destroyer Escort DENNIS changes course to 200° T.

EVENT    Caught in the middle of the approaching Japanese warships, one of the exploding shells kills three officers on DD JOHNSTON’s bridge. In addition, the concussion from the violent explosion rips the shirt off CDR Evans. He also loses two fingers on his left hand and suffers several small shrapnel wounds to his neck and back. Undaunted by his wounds, he continues to fight his ship in a heroic and gallant manner.

A/C    This timely sanctuary gave JOHNSTON the time she needed to fabricate emergency repairs. Her bridge was utterly ruined by her engagement with the battleships. It was during this time that CDR Evans switched steering to manual control aft, via the JV phone circuit.

EVENT    Destroyer HOEL, with limited propulsion on one engine, is unable to put distance between herself and the Japanese warships. She continues to take heavy punishment. She is hit on her main battery director, putting it out of commission and killing the anti-aircraft officer. Her 40mm anti-aircraft guns are placed in local control.

EVENT    The fleeing escort carriers reach the south side of the quick moving rain squall. With their sanctuary passing by the side, the six fleeing escort carriers now exit the other side of the rain squall and continue on a southerly course with the warships of Centre Force in hot pursuit.

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